Tyranids (again)

Well, I've still been fine tuning my anti-tyranid list and have one victory thus far... a victory that required 9 lascannons and 4 HB in a 750 point list... and I still have a friend that insists that Tyranids are not that strong and considered a weak army. Granted, the horde army is not that good but they have one massively powerful list that most people play - Godzilla.

What are your thoughts on fighting Tyranids? It seems to me that most balanced MEQ armies will have a lot of trouble with them since they won't naturally carry so many heavy weapons... but what reliable methods are available to squashing Tyranids? A T6/7 Carnifex with 2+ save, 4 wounds, and TL Devourers by itself is nothing to laugh at... but when you add in another one or two, a HT, some zoanthropes and a squad or two of Genestealers you have one very nasty list. Yes, they are slow and the main advantage lies in range and mobility but both of these are difficult for Chaos players to use well. Our Fast Attack choices are expensive and will not do much versus TMCs for their point costs.

So, am I out of line in saying that Zilla lists are very difficult to beat, and that the average un-tailored list will not do well against that kind of army? I'm not saying they are unbeatable, just that any army i create to counteract the threat will not perform very well against any other army. What do you guys do when fighting Tyranids... strategies and such.. and also what is your success rate in fighting them?

Your best bet is Iron Warriors. At the 1850 point level, you can take 6 oblits, 2 preds (autocannon, las's & d. pos), & two havocs w/ autocannons. I usually use a chaos lieut w/ d. flight. For troops, I use the 'rhino screen' to help slow down various parts of the zilla wall. Inside the rhinos, there's either 5 man plasma squads, or 7 man plasma squads w/ a fist.

Now, at the 750 level, you should still take a couple of oblits. It's hard to say whether preds or havocs would work better. My first thoughts lean towards preds, since they are cheaper, and at teh 750 point marker, cheaper is vital. For an h.q., the kai gun lieut w/ d. flight works very well (I've been known to use this h.q. at every game point level). For troops, I still suggest a 'rhino screen' of between 1-2 rhinos.

Tyranids can differ very greatly in composition. Are you fighting Godzilla, Horde, or Stealers? Autocannons will serve you pretty well but if you're fighting Godzilla I would recommend against tanks since they pop too easy against Sniperfexes. Autocannons and plasma are a must, and it's always healthy to have a smattering of lascannons in your list. Mine doesn't but I have Fisting Nurgle Marines (ew?) who can put up with CC better than your average bear.

3 really cheap Predators usually works really well. Autocannon, Heavy Bolter, Extra Armor. That's 115 points for AV13, 12" and 8 shots. That's cheap dakka, right there. I mean, they cost the same as a 6 man shooty squad, have more dakka, can only be hurt by certain other weapons. If you start putting mutated hull and whatnot on you suffer from diminishing returns on your investments.

If HvyBolter is an option, I advise against Autocannons... Against a regular Tyranid list, the HB is better. Against a 'Nidzilla list, stock up on heavier weapons to start with. Strength matters little if they still get their saves.

I'd usually advise against vehicles as well, as all the Tyranid needs to do is glance and You're not shooting that turn... But with Chaos, vehicles can be decent assuming You pay for Daemonic Possession.

"The meat things seek to destroy ourselves. They hunt us as we hunt them but they are weak and uncertain. The inferior flesh will be entirely destroyed, all biomatter consumed. Ourselves will fight to the last, all weak flesh must be devoured."